Comments

The was a great article. Unfortunately RVSM was not an implentation of the NEX-GEN. Most of the technology for NEX-GEN has not been developed or tested. The money for this program is going to be taken from air traffic controllers paychecks after they were slashed 30% in 2006 with the FAA imposed "contract:". Another source will be from increased user fees from general aviation and fuel taxes. Owners of general aviation aircraft will have to spend between $7000 and $8000 per aircraft for tihs equipment. As far as I can see, the biggest problem with delays, is the ground infastructure. You can have as many aircraft in the air as you want, but you can only put so many aircraft on the runways, taxiways, and gates at a time. Delays are cause on the ground, not in the air. Either way, as far as the FAA's track record goes, I will not be surprised to see the $22 billion rebaselined and not delivered on time or on budget.